Cubase 8.5 VSTs suddendly stops audio output temporarily

To start:
MacOS Mojave 10.14.6
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)
2.8 GHz Intel Core i7
16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3

Every once in a while, Cubase would become sluggish and I would shut it down, followed by starting it again and everything would be fine, but now, the VSTs will just stop putting out audio. When I first open Cubase it works fine, but if I do a couple of edits to the midi, followed by playing the song, then the VSTs stop putting out audio.

If I shut down Cubase for a while, including turning off my Focusrite Clarett 4Pre USB - firmware 1195 - then it will work for a couple of plays, then start to be sluggish, then NO AUDIO - WTF?

I have been working with Cubase since the 90s (mainly for recording audio), then in the mid 2010s, I discovered VSTs, which have been awesome, until now.

As far as what has changed goes, I did not update the OS, I did not install any new software before this problem started occurring somewhere around two or three days ago. At the time that it first happened, I thought maybe I had let my Focusrite get too hot and I just needed to let it cool off, but now I can only play a song once, before having to shut down everything, just to have it play only once through a song.

If I could afford to buy a PC laptop, then I would, because I am tired of this thing sounding like an jet airplane preparing for take off. Unfortunately, I am not in the best financial position to do so, unless someone knows of a PC laptop for $500.

Anyways, any help would be appreciated and thanks in advance

Hi,

Test your system by using the LatencyMon utility.

Try to increase your Audio Device Buffer Size, please.

Sorry for the late response, just coming back from the evening shift.

I did a Google search for a Mac version of “LatencyMon utility” but I only found PC versions. Is there a Mac equivalent

As far as the Audio Device buffer goes, I have it set to the highest that it will go 2048

Hi,

I didn’t know you are on Mac. Intel or M1? What macOS version do you use, please?

This is an old Mac, so it is Mac.Intel

BTW, these same Cubase 8.5 work just fine on my old Mac Pro (Desktop)

If anyone has advise on a laptop (cheap - I am working as a GrubHub driver these days), then I would appreciate it